Siding and roofing panel



April 19,1966 A. D. ROUSH I SIDING AND ROOFING PANEL Filed Jan. 9, 1963 United States Patent 3,246,436 SIDIN G AND ROOFING PANEL Alan D. Roush, 1300 E. Main St., Bennettsville, S.C. Filed Jan. 9, 1963, Ser; No. 250,425 4 Claims. (Cl. 52-303) This invention relates to panels designed for use as coverings for the sides and roofs of buildings and the like and relates more particularly to sheet metal panels, especially panels fabricated from steel, however, the invention is not necessarily-so limited.- In recent years, it has become a common practice to resurface older houses and other buildings, especially clapboard or lap sided buildings, with a more permanent metallic skin. Frequently, the metallic skin comprises panelsshaped to resemble a clapboard siding. It is also sometimes thepractice to employ such sheet metal skins as original surfaces on new houses and other building structures. Often, the sheet metal skin is applied to a sheathing which is fabricated of wood or other porous material through which moisture can be transmitted. The sheet metal skin, on the other hand, is impervious to moisture, with the result that moist air can and will accumulate behind the sheet metal skin and, with cooling, will condense. Such condensation is deleterious to the sheathingunderlying the sheet metal skin and, accordingly, it has become thepractice to provide'apertures or weep holes in the sheet metal skin, which will permit ambient atmospheric conditions to-prevail behind the sheet metal skin and substantially eliminate the occurrence of'conditions which will produce-condensation of moisture behind the skin.

The provision of weep holes in the sheet metal skin presentsa simple solution to the condensation problem. However, there areattendant difficulties, especially with sheet steel panels. Ordinarily, the panels used in-fabricating the metallic skinare treated so as to provide noncorrosivesurfaces thereon and, at each point Where a Weep hole is cut through the panel, untreated metal is exposed. In the case of aluminum panels, this creates no substantial problem, since aluminum has a high resistance to corrosion: However, inthe case of steel panels, considerable difliculty is encountered, due to the fact that the metal exposed by; providing a weep hole therein readily corrodes and loose flakes of rust develop thereon. With subsequent rainfall, the flakes of rust are washed down the sides of the building, creating discolored streaks on the outer surface of the building, especially below the weep holesites. For this reason, sheet steel panels, although economically attractive, have generated very little interest as skins for frame buildings and the like.

An object of the presentinvention is to provide an improvided panel design foruse in the fabrication of sheet metal skins for. building structures.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved sheet metal panel design provided with weep holes so located that the end products of corrosion, such as rust, are confined within the interior of the panel and do not ordinarily reach the exterior surfaces of the panel.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, the combination thereof, the method of manufacture and the mode of operation, as will become more apparent from the following description.

In the drawing, FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view, illustrating an assembly of panels in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view, taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary, elevational View further illustrating the assembly of panels in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to the drawing in greater detail, FIGURE Patented Apr. 19, 1966 1 illustrates an assembly of sheet metal panels 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d, which are shaped to simulate clapboard siding and which have been assembled to form one corner of a building structure. As shown, the edges or end margins of these'panels are engaged 'and shielded by corner splice members 12, the construction of which forms no part of the present invention.

The cross sectional shape of these panels is illustrated. in FIGURE 2, wherein the entire width of'the panel 10a is illustrated in section. Adjacent its upper side margin, the panel 10a is provided with pre-punched'apertures 14a, spaced at convenient intervals'along such upper margin. These apertures facilitate nailing, or alternative fastening of the panels to the walls or roof of a building structure to be covered thereby. As illustrated in exaggerated detail, the margins of the apertures 14a may be flared inwardly, as a result of the punching operation.

Spaced below the apertures 14a is an outwardly pro jecting-rib 16a, which extends the length of the panel 10a parallel to the upper and lower side margins thereof. Below-the rib16a'is a relatively large and flat outer face 17a which constitutes the exposed exterior surface portion of the panel 1011 when the panels are assembled together, as contemplated herein. The rib 16a may be described as'having an outer face 2 0a and spaced side walls 24a and 26a which support'the outer face 20a in spaced relation to the exterior face 17a of the panel 10a. The side Wall 26a includes a substantially flat surface-portion 28a disposed at a substantially acute angle with respect to the outer face 17a and also includes an adjacent recess or channel 30a projecting into said rib in a direction away from the lower side margin of said panel and opening to the exterior of said rib, havingone inner sidewall 34a which is common with the outer face 17a and one outer side wall 32a which is'spaced outwardly from the outer face 17a. A

plurality of apertures 36a are punched through the outer margins of the apertures, which flare is directed into the interior of the rib 16a.

1 The lower side margin of the panel 10a includes a hook portion 18a, which is formed by bending the lower margin of the panel inwardly from the outer face 17a to form a first flange 38a and upwardly to form a second flange or lip 40a which projects-toward the upper side margin of the panel. Preferably, the cut edge of the flange 40a is bent downwardly or re-entrantly,'so that the'cut edge overlies the first flange 38a.

FIGURE 2 includes the assembly of a second panel 10b, duplicating the panel 10, in'interfitting relation to the panel 10a. To facilitate description of this assembly, portions of the panel 10b are given the same numerical designation as the corresponding portions of the panel 10a; but are distinguished byadding the letter suffix b thereto.

For the interfitting engagement illustrated, the hook portion 18b of the panel" 10b is drawn up against the rib 16a of the panel 10a with the second flange 40b of I the panel 10b projecting into the channel 30a of the panel 10a. In making this connection, the panel 10b is drawn up tightly, so that its first flange 38b in the hook.

outer face 20a of the rib 1611, the outer face 201: comprising the outermost extension of said rib.

In such inte-rfitting connection, it is important that the apertures 36a leading to the channel 30a of the panel a remain unobstructed. To assure this result, the first flange 38b of the panel 10b is provided with a Width substantially equal to the width of the surface portion 28a in the panel 10a plus approximately one thickness of the sheet metal employed in forming the panels. This causes the second flange 40b, with its downwardly turned edge 42a, to seat against the outer side wall 32a of the channel 30a. The channel 39a is, at the same time, given an interior width between the side walls 32a and 34a which is substantially greater than two thicknesses of the sheet metal material, whereby an appreciable gap exists between the side wall 34:: of the panel 16a and the second flange 40b of the panel ltlb in the interfitting assembly thereof.

Further assurance of an air passage to the aperture 36a is provided by making the length of the flange 48b of the panel 10b no greater than the separation between the aperture 3&1 and the surface portion 28a of the panel 10a plus one thickness of the sheet metal used in fabricatirig the panel.

The interfitting hook and rib formation disclosed herein has been designed primarily for use in panels formed of sheet steel. As previously noted, such panels are ordiarily treated, so as to render the surfaces thereof non-corrosive in ordinary atmospheres. Most conveniently, suchtreatment is accomplished by establishing a zinc coating on the steel surface which is applied by the manufacturer of the sheet material. Even with such coating, however, rust will develop wherever the sheet metal has been cut or pierced, since an untreated surface has been exposed to the atmosphere. In the present panel, such untreated surfaces exist at the ends of the panel, at the upper margin of the panel, at the downwardly turned edge 4211 which constitutes the extreme lower margin of the panel, at the inwardly flared margins of the apertures 14a in the panel, and at the extremities of the flared margins of the apertures 36a which face into the rib 16a of the panel.

The untreated surfaces at the ends of the panel present no particular problem, since it has become a popular practice to cover such ends with splice members. Thus, FIGURE 1 illustrates corner splice members 12 which cover the ends of the panels. FIGURE 3 illustrates a panel configuration which could occur to the right of FIGURE 1, where the panel 10b has terminated and has been spliced to an adjacent continuing panel 106;. As illustrated, the adjacent ends of the panels 1% and 10a are interconnected by a splice member 44 of a con vention'al construction forming no part of the present invention. In the preferred utilization of the present panels, the splice members 12 and 44- are packed with a mastic or a suitable caulking compound which prevents escape of rust from the ends of the panels of the exterior surfaces thereof.

Rust forming along the upper margin of the panels presents no problem, since this margin is located on the inner side of the assembled panels at a point not reached by rainwater and, accordingly, flakes of rust will not be washed off this edge. Even if washed off, such rust will not reach the exterior surfaces of the assembled panels. The same remarks apply to the margins surrounding the apertures l ta in the panel.

Turning attention to the downwardly turned edge 42a, this edge has been turned down so that any rust forming thereon will be washed into the hook portion 18a of the panel 1001, where it cannot ordinarily escape to the exterior surfaces of the building structure. Of course, in the panel 1%, which is assembled above the panel 10a, its downwardly turned edge 42!) is confined in a pocket defined by the outer side Wall 32a of the panel 10a, together with the first flange 38b and the second flange 40b of the panel lttb. Thus, any rust forming on this edge is not likely to be contacted by rainwater and, even if contacted, cannot ordinarily escape from its place of confinement.

The only other source of rust on the panels of the present invention resides in the margins of the weep hole apertures 36a. However, these margins are so located that rainwater cannot ordinarily reach the unprotected margins of those apertures so as to wash rust to the exterior surface of the panels. In the event rainwater should be wind driven through the apertures 36a, this water, while it may wash rust off the margins of the apertures 36a, will remain confined in a pocket within the rib 16a bounded by the outer surface of the outer side wall 32a, the inner surface of the outer face 20a and the interior surface of the side wall 26a and will ultimately evaporate without carrying rust to the exterior surfaces of the panel. Also, it is desirable, but not necessary to punch the apertures 36a in such manner that the cut margins are turned inwardly of the rib 160, as shown, such that rust flakes dropping therefrom will drop inwardly of the rib and thereby be prevented from reaching the exterior panel surfaces.

In view of the foregoing remarks, it is apparent that the present invention results in a panel having adequate provision for an interchange of air between the inner and outer surfaces of the panel, thereby reducing any tendency toward moisture condensation while, at the same time, resulting in a panel the untreated surfaces of which are so located that rust or other corrosive products forming thereon cannot ordinarily reach the external surfaces of the panels.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A building panel adapted for use on the exterior side of a building structure, said panel comprising a sheet of impervious material capable of holding its own shape, said sheet having inner and outer faces, said sheet having spaced end margins and spaced side margins extending between said end margins, said sheet having a V hollow rib projecting outwardly from said outer face face of said outer face portion, the outer surface of said outer side wall, and the interior surface of said one side, said outer side wall having an aperture therethrough spaced from said one side and establishing communioation between said channel and said pocket.

2. A one-piece panel adapted for assembly with a duplicate second panel so as to form a Wall section or the like, said panel comprising a sheet of an impervious material capable of holding its own shape, said sheet having inner and outer faces and having a substantially linear side margin, said sheet having a hollow rib extending outwardly from the outer face thereof in spaced relation to said side margin, said rib extending the length of said panel and having spaced sides one of which is closer to said side margin than the other, the closer of said sides to said side margin having a channel therein projecting into said rib in a direction away from said side margin, said channel extending the length of said rib,

said channel having spaced inner and outer side walls and said outer side wall having an aperture therethrough located a predetermined distance from the edge of said outer side wall which is closest to said side margin, said side margin including a flange extending inwardly from the outer face of said sheet and a lip portion integral with said flange projecting from the innermost terminus of said flange toward the side of said sheet which is opposite said side margin, said flange and said lip extending throughout the length of said panel, the separation between said inner face and said lip being substantially equal to the separation between the inner surface of said outer side wall of said channel and the outermostextension of said rib, the projective width of said lip portion being not substantially greater than said predetermined distance plus one thickness of said sheet, said channel having a width between said inner and outer side Walls greater than the thickness of said lip portion whereby said duplicate second panel may be assembled upon the outer face of said first panel herein defined by projecting the lip portion of said second panel into the channel of said first panel without said lip portion of said second panel obstructing the aperture in said first panel.

3. The panel according to claim 2 wherein said lip portion has the edge thereof which is most remote from said flange reentrant inwardly so as to overlie said flange.

4.- With the panel according to claim 2 wherein said rib has a generally rectangular cross section and includes an outer face portion supported by said sides of said rib in outwardly spaced relation to the outer face of said panel, said outer face portion comprising the outermost extension of said rib.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,258,247 10/1941 Hull 52530 2,626,577 1/1953 Roush et a1 52-520 2,853,163 9/1958 Lockwood 52530 FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

JACOB SHAPIRO, EARL J. WITMER, Examiners. 

1. A BUILDING PANEL ADAPTED FOR USE ON THE EXTERIOR SIDE OF A BUILDING STRUCTURE, SAID PANEL COMPRISING A SHEET OF IMPERVIOUS MATERIAL CAPABLE OF HOLDING ITS OWN SHAPE, SAID SHEET HAVING INNER AND OUTER FACES, SAID SHEET HAVING SPACED END MARGINS AND SPACED SIDE MARGINS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID END MARGINS, SAID SHEET HAVING A HOLLOW RIB PROJECTING OUTWRDLY FROM SAID OUTER FACE AND EXTENDING FROM ONE END MARGIN TO THE OTHER END MARGIN, SAID RIB HAVING SPACED SIDES AND AN OUTER FACE PORTION SUPPORTED OUTWARDLY FROM SAID OUTER FACE OF SAID SHEET BY SAID SIDES, ONE OF SAID SIDES HAVING A CHANNEL THEREIN OPENING TO THE EXTERIOR OF SAID RIB, SAID CHANNEL EXTENDING THE LENGTH OF SAID RIB AND HAVING SPACED INNER AND OUTER SIDE WALLS, SAID OUTER SIDE WALL BEING SPACED FROM SAID OUTER FACE PORTION OF SAID RIB TO DEFINE A POCKET WITHIN THE INTERIOR OF SAID RIB BOUNDED BY THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID OUTER FACE PORTION, THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID OUTER SIDE WALL, AND THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID ONE SIDE, SAID OUTER SIDE WALL HAVING AN APERTURE THERETHROUGH SPACED FROM SAID ONE SIDE AND ESTABLISHING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID CHANNEL AND SAID POCKET. 